After Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s general election announcement, the Palace shared the royals are postponing engagements that “may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”
King Charles III‘s calendar just opened up.
Buckingham Palace revealed the royal family is deferring public appearances following U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak‘s announcement that there will be a general election on July 4.
“Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a general election, the royal family will—in accordance with normal procedure—postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign,” the Palace said in a May 22 statement obtained by NBC News. “Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”
This is the U.K.’s first general election in nearly five years. And if you’re wondering how they work, Parliament’s official website explains these elections give people the chance to vote for their local Member of Parliament (MP).
“This person will represent a local area (constituency) in the House of Commons for up to five years,” the website states. “There is a choice of several candidates in each constituency. Some will be the local candidates for national political parties. The candidate that receives most votes becomes their MP.”
“The political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons at a general election usually forms the new government,” it later adds. “Its leader becomes Prime Minister.”
According to People, King Charles and his son Prince William had public outings scheduled for this week that have since been either put off or canceled.
King Charles returned to his public-facing duties in April after postponing them due to his schedule of cancer treatments—with his diagnosis being announced in February.
William’s wife Kate Middleton, who announced her cancer diagnosis in March, has also taken a step back from public engagements—with a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirming to the BBC on May 21 that “the princess is not expected to return to work until it’s cleared by her medical team.”
On May 13, King Charles III bestowed the title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to his oldest son, sparking controversy as many royal watchers believed the title would be more suited for Prince Harry, who trained and served in the military branch.
On April 26, nearly three months after sharing his cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles will return to public-facing duties.
